Autoimmune cytotoxic granulocyte antibodies in health and disease.

Optimum serologic reactivity is observed if papain-treated granulocytes are reacted with cytotoxic antibody at low (5 degrees C) rather than warm (22 degrees C) precomplement incubation temperatures. Favorable in vitro conditions have allowed the identification of cytotoxic granulocyte antibodies in approximately 12% of nonimmunized normal males and females. Furthermore, the incidence of granulocytotoxic antisera in a group of alloimmunized patients did not exceed that observed in the normal population. In two cases cited, a normal male and a patient with pathologic neutropenia, cytotoxic antibodies against allogeneic granulocytes were autoreactive against the autologous cells of the serum producer. In the latter subject, an inverse association was demonstrated between the presence of autoantibody and the circulating neutrophil count. The incidence of granulocytotoxins in various diseases has been given and appears raised in systemic lupus erythematosus and asthma.